During any single race, many tacks are performed. Therefore the difference between good and bad tacking or even between very good and just acceptable tacking can lead to big differences in apparent boat speed. If a boat loses (or gains) one boat length on each tack during a race, it is not hard to see how much distance can be lost (or gained) by perfecting your tacking technique. Improving your tacking is easy to do, it can be practised at any time, by yourself or in a group. Before you go out on the water though, ran through in your mind what you are trying to do; where your boat and where you should be at any point during the tack. Practice the tack mentally in several steps, then practice it out on the water, gradually building it up into one fluent motion.

1 Make sure that the boat is travelling at maximum possible speed for the conditions. Tacking when the boat is moving slowly will lead to a loss of speed out of the tack. Therefor choosing your moment to tack is as important as the execution of the tack itself.

2 Begin to roll the boat to windward and push the tiller away from you (make sure that end of the tiller is angled down and cannot hit the boom). Slight leeward heel prior to this roll can sometimes aid steering. Keep rudder movements to the minimum and don't oversteer, as any excess rudder movement will slow the boat - try to use sail trim and your body weight to coax the boat round. Only
release the sheet at the last moment. (Also, sheeting in as you roll the boat can help to improve the tack.)

3 As the boat turns through the wind, ease the sheet by moving your sheet-hand down to the bottom block on the floor. Duck under the boom, whilst still keeping rudder movements to the minimum.

4 As soon as the boom has passed overhead, stand up in the boat, thereby sheeting in as you do so by bringing your sheet-hand up with you. Move your aft foot across boat and lock it under the toestrap. Start to roll the boat flat.

5 Sit down on the sidedeck and adjust your course. The tiller should now be held in your forehand, behind your back. The sheet should be held in your aft hand, in front of you. This allows you to automatically cleat the sheet across the front of your body, and then move your forehand aft to pick up the tiller.

6 Adjust your position if necessary, adjust sheet if necessary and off you go.

7 A refinement is to 'shoot the wind' as you come out of the tack. As you sheet in on the new tack, head up slightly, then roll the boat
flat. Doing this will lift the boat slightly to windward and gain you a few metres.

What you are trying to achieve is a fluent tack that does not slow the boat down. Avoid excess rudder and sail movement as this can be detrimental and always choose the right moment to tack. You will know when you have executed a good tack as boat speed will be maintained out of the tack (watch your wake) and your movements will have been smooth and controlled.

Finally remember to watch where you are going - don't tack so that when you turn through the wind you smash into the next oncoming wave and stop dead in your tracks. Watch the waves and tack when you can do it smoothly.